The Sesquicentennial of the Civil War will start in 2010 right here in South Carolina. But we don't have to wait to learn about and relive our history of those times.

On Saturday, February 7, the annual Columbia's Longest Days event will commemorate General William T. Sherman's march to Columbia and the burning of the city that took place in February of 1865. This event is for the whole family and is sponsored by the Greater Columbia Civil War Alliance, which is composed of the major public and private historic preservation organizations in the area.

This will also be the first year that Boy and Girl Scouts will have an opportunity to earn an activity patch by attending some of the activities that day. More information about this and all the day's events can be found at www.columbiaslongestdays. com or by calling 217-0071.

At 8:45 that Saturday morning, Union cannons will again fire on Columbia and the State House from the West Columbia side of the Gervais Street Bridge as they did in February of 1865. This impressive re- enactment will feature four replica Civil War cannons with precision performances by artillery brigades under the command of a General Sherman on horseback. There is no charge to the public.

At 9:30 that morning, the first of three narrated and very popular bus tours will depart from the parking lot of the State Museum building (301 Gervais Street). Tickets must be purchased in advance.

The first bus tour retraces the steps of General Sherman's right wing as they approached and entered Columbia. It features stops at Confederate earthworks, original abutments of bridges burned by the Confederate Army, and ruins of one of the largest textile mills in the 1800s.

At 2:30 a second bus tour follows the route of the right wing of General Sherman's army as it marched through central Lexington County in February of 1865. This tour will feature a re- enactment of skirmishes between Union and Confederate troops.

Also at 2:30 that day an informative bus tour of Civil War era buildings, landmarks, and site in downtown Columbia will involve walking and a tour of the Hampton- Preston Mansion.

From 9 am to 4 pm, a free Civil War Expo will be held at the Columbia Mills Building (301 Gervais Street), which houses both the S.C. State Museum and the Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum. Civil War artifacts will be on display from museums and personal collections. The living history portion of the expo will feature hobbies and crafts of the time period. Re- enactors will be on hand to display uniforms and weaponry. The public is also invited to bring their Civil War era artifacts for a free, professional appraisal.

A symposium will be held inside the Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm. Admission to the symposium is $2 for adults with children free. The funds will be used for preservation by the museum. The symposium will include a virtual tour of the Burning of Columbia, a book signing and talk by Robert Seigler (author of South Carolina Military Organizations During the War Between the States), and a presentation of artillery stories of the Carolinas Campaign.

At 8 pm that night a Grand Ball will be held in the Congaree Room of the Mills Building. Live period music and dance calling will be provided by the Celestrial Mountain Band along with refreshments. Tickets must be purchased at www.columbiaslongestdays. com or by calling 217- 0071.